Assertive Community Treatment Grants (Short Title: ACT)

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2018 Grants to Establish and Expand Assertive Community Treatment (Short Title: ACT). The purpose of this program is to establish or expand and maintain ACT programs for individuals with a serious mental illness (SMI). SAMHSA expects this program will improve behavioral health outcomes for individuals by reducing rates of hospitalization, mortality, substance use, homelessness, and involvement with the criminal justice system. ACT is considered to be one of the most effective evidence-based programs designed to support community living for individuals with the most severe functional impairments associated with SMI. Such individuals tend to need services from multiple providers (e.g., physicians, social workers) and multiple systems (e.g., social services, housing services, health care). Based on the ACT model, a multi-disciplinary team is available around the clock to deliver a wide range of services in a person's home or other community settings. ACT was developed to deliver comprehensive and effective services to those who live with the most serious psychiatric symptoms, the most significant social functioning challenges, and whose needs have not been well met by traditional approaches. ACT is a service delivery model, not a case management program. The ACT team model is composed of 10-12 multi-disciplinary behavioral health care staff who work together to deliver a mix of individualized, recovery-oriented services to persons living with SMI to help them successfully integrate into the community. Team members themselves provide the comprehensive array of services directly rather than through referrals. Caseloads are approximately one staff for every 10 individuals served. Services are provided 24 hours - 7 days a week, as long as needed and wherever they are needed. ACT teams often find they can anticipate and avoid crises.